One of the great things about my job is that I get to go all over the province and talk to youth. I hear about what things are like for them in their schools, at home, and in their communities. One things I hear a lot, in big cities and small towns is that in the classroom, in the hallway and in the streets, homophobic and transphobic violence is rampant.

This violence can take the form of language. It shows up in the repetative and constant use of “that’s so gay”; the name calling, jokes and other labels that make being queer an insult; the harassment of people not dressing or fitting into the norm of what a ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ should be.

This violence can show up in silence- the isolation and alienation of folks who are, or who are suspected to be queer.  It is present in the unwelcome and intolerant atmosphere of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ rules that so many of us live under, and in the complete lack of action and discussion on trans issues.

The violence,of course, can also be physical. I hear stories of  being pushed and shoved in the hallways  and on the way home, of weekly beatings, of folks being followed, and of people being sexually assaulted to ‘make them straight’.

Some spaces are safer than others, but most of us experience some form of the homophobic or transphobic violence. Tell us what it’s like in your community. Is homophobic/transphobic bullying a problem? What kind of violence do you see? Have you found ways to make yourself and/or your space safer?